Angélique Kidjo, the acclaimed Beninese singer-songwriter, is set to become the first Black African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with a ceremony taking place on 18 August at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard. The honour caps a career spanning decades in which Kidjo, singing in five languages, has become one of the most celebrated voices in West African and world music, credited with selling nearly four million albums and winning five Grammy awards.

In an interview timed to the ceremony, Kidjo discussed her new album "Hope", made with Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, which blends Africana influences with sleek R&B while retaining her socially conscious lyricism. She also reflected on the enduring influence of her mother, a choreographer and theatre director, and traced her artistic evolution through milestones including 1996's "Fifa", 2007's Grammy-winning "Djin Djin", her 2019 tributes to Talking Heads and Celia Cruz, and collaborations with composer Philip Glass, describing her ongoing efforts to reinvent herself while touring "Hope" through 2027.